Imaging transducer assembly

Abstract

The present invention is generally directed towards an imaging transducer assembly. Generally, the imaging transducer assembly is combined with a sensor of a medical positioning system. In one aspect, the transducer assembly and the sensor share the same voltage source. In another aspect of the invention, the sensor surrounds a portion of the imaging transducer assembly, forming a housing that reinforces the assembly.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An imaging catheter having distal and proximal ends and a lumen, comprising:
 a coaxial cable comprising a center wire, an outer shield, and a distal end; 
 an imaging transducer assembly located within the lumen of a distal portion of the catheter, the imaging transducer assembly including an imaging transducer; and 
 a sensor adapted to communicate with a medical positioning system, wherein the sensor and the imaging transducer are each electrically coupled, in a parallel electrical configuration with respect to each other, to the center wire and the outer shield at the distal end of the coaxial cable. 
 
     
     
       2. The imaging catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the imaging transducer assembly comprises an acoustic lens coupled with a layer of piezoelectric crystal, the piezoelectric crystal being coupled with a backing material. 
     
     
       3. The imaging catheter of  claim 2 , wherein the backing material comprises a tungsten material. 
     
     
       4. The imaging catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the catheter includes a driveshaft proximal to the imaging transducer assembly, and the sensor comprises a conductive material surrounding the driveshaft to form a housing around the driveshaft. 
     
     
       5. The imaging catheter of  claim 2 , wherein the sensor includes an insulated conductive wire wrapped around the driveshaft to form a coil shape. 
     
     
       6. The imaging catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor includes an antenna portion having first and second terminals. 
     
     
       7. The imaging catheter of  claim 6 , wherein at least one of the first and second terminals is insulated from the lumen. 
     
     
       8. The imaging catheter of  claim 6 , wherein the imaging transducer and the sensor share the first and second terminals. 
     
     
       9. The imaging catheter of  claim 6 , wherein the imaging transducer assembly has a first and second transducer terminal, the first transducer terminal being coupled to the center wire of the coaxial cable and the second transducer terminal being coupled to the outer shield of the coaxial cable. 
     
     
       10. The imaging catheter of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a non-conductive epoxy surrounding the coaxial cable; and 
 a drive shaft surrounding the non-conductive epoxy; 
 wherein the sensor comprises an insulated conductive wire wrapped around at least a distal portion of the drive shaft, the conductive wire having a first and second wire terminal, wherein at least one of the first and second wire terminals is coupled to the outer shield of the coaxial cable and the other of the first and second wire terminals is coupled to the center wire of the coaxial cable; and 
 wherein the imaging transducer assembly comprises: 
 a backing material coupled to the outer shield of the coaxial cable; 
 a piezoelectrical crystal coupled to the backing material; and 
 an acoustic lens coupled to the piezoelectrical crystal and coupled to the center wire of the coaxial cable. 
 
     
     
       11. A medical imaging system comprising:
 a medical positioning system; and 
 an imaging device adapted to be inserted into a lumen of a body, the imaging device including: 
 the imaging catheter of  claim 1 . 
 
     
     
       12. The medical imaging system of  claim 11 , wherein the imaging transducer assembly comprises an acoustic lens coupled with a layer of piezoelectric crystal, the piezoelectric crystal being coupled with a backing material. 
     
     
       13. The medical imaging system of  claim 11 , wherein the catheter includes a driveshaft proximal to the imaging transducer assembly, and the sensor comprises a conductive material surrounding the driveshaft to form a housing around the driveshaft. 
     
     
       14. The medical imaging system of  claim 11 , wherein the sensor includes an antenna portion having first and second terminals. 
     
     
       15. The medical imaging system of  claim 14 , wherein the imaging transducer and the sensor share the first and second terminals. 
     
     
       16. The medical imaging system of  claim 14 , wherein the imaging transducer assembly has a first and second transducer terminal, the first transducer terminal being coupled to the center wire of the coaxial cable and the second transducer terminal being coupled to the outer shield of the coaxial cable.